How to take Saxenda
Saxenda is a medication used for weight management in overweight or adults living with obesity with weight-related medical problems. It contains liraglutide, which helps regulate appetite and metabolism. Patients can self-administer it once a day using a pre-filled pen and gradually increase their dose until they reach a maximum of 3mg per day.
Saxenda comes as a pre-filled, multi-dose pen that clients can self-administer once daily, at any time of day, with or without food. It is injected subcutaneously (under the skin) in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.
Clients start with a dose of Saxenda of 0.6 mg per day for the first week, then increase the dose by 0.6 mg each week until they reach a maximum dose of 3 mg per day. So, the dose-increase schedule, also called “titration” looks like the image below.
This gradual dose increase can help clients adjust to any gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea and diarrhea, which are common in the first few weeks of treatment. If you experience severe or persistent gastrointestinal side effects, please contact us through our WaitLess on-demand service or by email at help@chequp.com.
Once a client reaches the maintenance dose of 3 mg per day, they should continue that dose for as long as the medication is needed. If a dose is missed, clients should take the missed dose as soon as they remember, unless it is close to the time of their next scheduled dose. Clients should not take two doses of Saxenda at the same time to make up for a missed dose.
Saxenda should be taken alongside CheqUp’s full weight management programme and combine a reduced-calorie diet with an increase their physical activity to help with weight loss. Saxenda is not a substitute for these lifestyle changes, but rather an adjunct to them.
Published: 25 February 2023